Urine pH test

The female and male urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.

Also known as: pH - urine

Definition

A urine pH test measures the level of acid in urine.

How the Test is Performed

After you provide a urine sample, it is tested right away. The health care provider uses a dipstick made with a color-sensitive pad. The color the dipstick changes to tells the provider the level of acid in your urine.

How to Prepare for the Test

Your health care provider may tell you to stop taking certain medicines that can affect the results of the test. These may include:

Acetazolamide

Ammonium chloride

Methenamine mandelate

Potassium citrate

Sodium bicarbonate

Thiazide diuretic

Do not stop taking any medicine before talking to your provider.

Eat a normal, balanced diet for several days before the test. Note that:

A diet high in citrus fruits, vegetables, or dairy products can increase your urine pH.

A diet high in meat products or cranberries can decrease your urine pH.

How the Test will Feel

The test involves only normal urination. There is no discomfort.

Why the Test is Performed

Your doctor may order this test to check for changes in your body's acid levels.It may be done to see if you:

Are at risk of kidney stones. Different types of stones can form depending on how acidic your urine is.

Need to take certain medicines to treat urinary tract infections. Some medicines are more effective when urine is acidic or non-acidic (alkaline).

Normal Results

The normal values range from pH 4.6 to pH 8.0.

The examples above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test result.

What Abnormal Results Mean

A high urine pH may be due to:

Kidneys do not properly remove acids (kidney tubular acidosis, also known as renal tubular acidosis)

A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection of the urinary tract. The infection can occur at different points in the urinary tract including:
Bladder — an infection in the bladder is also called or a bladder infection.
Kidneys — an infection of one or both kidneys is called or a ...

Uric acid is a chemical created when the body breaks down substances called purines. Purines are found in some foods and drinks. These include liver, anchovies, mackerel, dried beans and peas, and beer.
Most uric acid dissolves in blood and travels to the kidneys. From there, it passes out in urine. ...

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening problem that affects people with . It occurs when the body cannot use sugar (glucose) as a fuel source because there is no insulin or not enough insulin. Fat is used for fuel instead.
When fat breaks down, waste products called ketones build up in the ...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common lung diseases. Having COPD makes it hard to breathe.
There are two main forms of COPD:
Chronic bronchitis, which involves a long-term cough with mucus
Emphysema, which involves damage to the lungs over time
Most people with COPD ...

A kidney stone is a solid mass made up of tiny crystals. One or more stones can be in the kidney or ureter at the same time.

Review date:

November 13, 2014

Reviewed by:

David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Bethanne Black, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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